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Today, making a crossbow with your own hands at home is not so difficult if you have the necessary drawings and the desire to work hard. Having modern materials and tools on hand, you can make both hunting, tournament and sports weapons.

What have we gained and what have we lost?

Unfortunately, the centuries-old experience of our ancestors in making crossbows and bows was largely lost. Many secrets remained forever in the abyss of time. But the current generation has finally realized the importance of crossbows and bows. The ability to make such weapons is returning again. More and more people are becoming his fans, joining the ranks of modern Robin Hoods. Now everyone can make a crossbow. Next, we revealed all the features and detailed instructions for creating a crossbow at home.

Features of creating a crossbow at home

Today on the Internet you can find a lot of offers for purchasing a ready-made crossbow. There are many models for different tastes, but it is worth noting that the price will vary. Nevertheless, there are a lot of people who want to make throwing weapons with their own hands. Initially, a beginner may get lost in a series of actions, but now we will tell you how to make a crossbow with your own hands at home and provide drawings so that everything is as correct as possible. This is very important, because even small manufacturing errors can lead to unpleasant and unexpected surprises in the future, including injury.

Before you begin the process of manufacturing the device, you should dwell on two important points.

1. On the territory of our country, the crossbow is used exclusively in entertainment or sports competitions and events. Using it as a hunting weapon is strictly prohibited! All types of throwing weapons that have a tension gain of 43 kg and more are combat types, as in the photo. In this case, you must have a special permission for use, which can be obtained from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Combat crossbow

1. A crossbow is a special design that is subject to incredible loads during use. That is why it is important to follow all the rules for its manufacture and not allow even the slightest mistakes and errors. Otherwise, you may be injured during operation. Do not forget about the multiple safety margin that absolutely all structural elements must have.

It is very easy to get injured with an incorrectly made crossbow.

Making a bow

One of the main components of the entire structure and the engine of the crossbow was the bow. This is a plate with great elasticity, which has a complex shape. This plate has a bend. For greater functionality, one more bend is created at both ends.

Making a crossbow should always start with a bow. The remaining components should simply be selected to suit it:

• stock parameters;
• what will be the release mechanism;
• Which tension option is better - block or recursive type.

The bow is the main link of the crossbow

How to choose material for manufacturing?

A crossbow can be made from several materials - wood, metal or composite. But what is better to choose is up to you:

• wood - it is better not to use it as the main material. The wood that can be found in the yard is not of sufficient quality for a self-made crossbow. A branch from the forest will eventually lose its original appearance and properties due to drying out. Although this option is suitable for short-term use. For example, play shooting games at the dacha in the summer. Despite this, ready-made models of Scorpio and Tarantula crossbows, which consist of wood, have become quite popular;
• composite – consists of fiberglass, which is joined together with an epoxy binder. At first glance, this material seems simple and ideal. But only at first glance. The downside is the mandatory perfect adherence to all the nuances of the manufacturing instructions - accurate calculation of the proportion of the mixture, compliance with drying conditions and correct exposure. It is almost impossible to create and maintain such important conditions at home.

Crossbows can be made from anything

Metal

It should be given a separate place among all materials. It has no alternatives or competitors. Owners of old Moskvich cars with leaf springs will definitely win.

You only need 1 sheet - the 2nd in size. If size is not a problem for you, then you can make a crossbow from the first sheet. The first one is even more profitable to use due to the presence of tubes on the edges. We can say that the bracket on which the bowstring or blocks are attached is ready.

To attach the bow to the stock you will need a block. It is shaped like the letter P and seems to hug the stock from the front side. Its fastening can be of two types:

• Weld tightly to the spring leaf using welding. But this option is unsafe and impractical. Each time, excessive load will be applied to the welds, which will sooner or later lead to the part being torn off;
• use of a ball joint on the block. This part from a VAZ2108 or 09 is ideal. You need to fix the bow on the pin itself. The ease also lies in the fact that the sheet has a hole suitable for this.

Important: A connection with bolts, and ideally with rivets, is many times better than a conventional weld, since this part of the crossbow experiences enormous vibration overloads. Homemade pulleys can also be found among Moskvich spare parts. Window lifter elements are suitable for this.

Special attention should be paid to the manufacture of the bowstring. To avoid searching for a suitable element for a long time, many people use a metal cable (very thin). But it is better to replace this option with a durable climbing cord, with a cross-section from 5 to 8 mm. The cable is unreliable due to the fact that it cannot withstand incoming changing loads for a long time.

The cord will allow you to use the crossbow for a long time and safely

When you have chosen the material of the string and attached it to the bow, it does not hurt to test it for bending. It is best to use a dynamometer for these purposes (100 - 150 kg). After such tests, you will decide on important parameters that will be useful in the further manufacture of the crossbow:

Crossbow test

Creation of a lodge

An equally important element is the crossbow stock. In this case, you can’t do without wood as the main material. But not all wood can be used. For example, you should give up aspen, spruce, alder and pine. Oak, beech, and elm are considered good options. For a good crossbow, such a blank must be perfectly dried for a couple of decades, which is, in principle, unrealistic for ordinary home production.

Lodge drawing

For a homemade crossbow, 7–9 mm plywood with moisture-resistant properties is suitable. Then, 3–5 contours of the future part should be cut out of this material and joined together with epoxy resin. Despite the external unpresentability, such a part will be unusually reliable and strong.

Before making a stock, pay attention to some features:

• shape: it is better not to choose a half-pistol shape. A straight English stock is optimal. The advantage was not only ease of creation, but also increased strength;
• When you assemble all the elements of the stock, take into account the course of the bowstring and the resulting load. The stroke of the bowstring is the distance from the release groove to the block itself. Load – the thickness of the false walls where they are fixed. In a straight English stock there is no such thinness between the fore-end and the butt as in the semi-pistol version;
• The arrow guide is the main element of the stock. Make sure it is smooth and strong enough. No need to worry about how to make such a detail. A plate that is framed by Moskvich glass or furniture fittings is suitable;

Creating a crossbow trigger

It is almost impossible to make such a link in a house structure, even if you have the necessary diagram. The exception is if you are a professional locksmith and you have the necessary equipment.

Crossbow trigger diagram

It’s great if you have a trigger for an air rifle. Having modified it a little, you will receive a finished part for your homemade crossbow.

A casing should be placed above the mechanism itself, the height of which is 2–5 cm. It is needed to protect against moisture and debris. In addition, it will become the basis for devices that increase the aiming of fire - rear sight, optics.

The front of the casing (placed above the trigger mechanism itself) has the shape of a tail, the length of which does not exceed 10 cm. It is this that will hold the back of the arrow on the guide itself.

You can make arrows yourself or buy them in a specialized department. Congratulations, you were able to make a crossbow with your own hands at home, using ready-made drawings with instructions. If you did everything correctly, it will serve you for many years. For even more practical tips, watch the video.

You will need

• - boards;
• - carpentry tools;
• - hemp rope;
• - feathers:
• - leather;
• - iron wire.

Instructions

The crossbow consists of three parts. This is a stock, an arc and a trigger mechanism, aka . To make a crossbow of the most ancient design, start with an arc. The parameters of the remaining parts depend on it. Select boards. Suitable for the arc are yew, hazel, and rowan. Conifers are not suitable. The board must be well dried and seasoned. There should be no curling, cross-layering or knots. Cut a piece 70-80 cm long, 3-4 cm wide and about 2 cm thick. Process it with a plane so that the arc evenly thins towards the ends to a width of 1-1.5 cm.

Make a bed. It is made from deciduous wood that has sufficient... It can be maple, beech and even oak. Keep in mind that the crossbow was not pressed down when firing and did not have a butt. Therefore, make the bed in the form of a board that is comfortable to hold in your hands. In the front of the stock, make a groove into which the central part of the arc should fit.

At a distance of 8-10 cm from the groove, make a hole for the rope fastening of the arc. Temporarily secure the bow in the slot with rope by wrapping the rope around the bow and threading it through the hole in the stock. Attach a bowstring to the ends of the soul. To do this, you need to make small cuts on it with a knife. Tension the bowstring as you would during shooting (as much as your strength and arc strength allow). Make a mark on the stock in the place where the drawn bowstring is located at this moment. Remove the arc from the bed and continue processing it. From the bowstring mark, step back a distance equal to the length of your forearm. Saw off the workpiece.

Make a trigger mechanism. In this design, you can use the most ancient lock of the so-called pin type. Drill a through hole in the stock at the location of the bowstring mark. In the upper part of the stock, make a transverse recess to the depth of the bowstring. At the bottom, fasten it to the hinge according to the drawing. The lever axis can also be made of wood and fixed with two pieces of wire passing through it. Insert the axle into the stock, thereby securing the lever. Secure it by piercing it on both sides with pieces of wire. Holes for the wire can be drilled or burned. The latter method is more consistent with historical technology. Wrap the protruding small ends of the wire around the axis.

Place the stock and lever together. Secure them in this position with a clamp or rope and, using a ready-made hole in the stock, drill a blind recess in the lever to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Remove the clamp. Check how freely the lever moves on the axle. Friction should be minimal.

Using a knife, cut a round pin from oak or beech so that its diameter is slightly smaller than the lock hole. The pin should fit freely into the hole without friction or snags, resting on the trigger lever. The length of the pin should be such that when the lever is fully raised, the upper edge is level or slightly above the upper plane of the stock. The function of the pin is to push the string out of the groove.

Make a groove for the bolt (arrow). Cut it from the front edge of the stock to the top hole of the lock. The depth of the groove should not exceed a quarter of the diameter of the bolt.

Carry out final processing of wooden parts. Sand them down using sandpaper. You can coat them with albumin varnish (egg white dissolved in water) or wax them.

Use a rope to secure the bow to the stock. Check that the lock is working correctly. When the lever is tilted upward, the pin should confidently push out the bowstring.

27.06.2019

In this way you can make a bowstring for a crossbow. If your goal is the question of how to make a crossbow, then you need to pay special attention to the bowstring. On this site you will find a lot of useful information for you on how to make a crossbow with your own hands.

For a good quality bow, you need a good quality bowstring, which we will now manufacture. But people interested in making a real bow will definitely pay attention to these recommendations, unless, of course, they are planning to buy a bowstring in an online store.

To wind the bowstring we will need nylon, silk or nylon thread. All this can be purchased at fishing, hunting, and hardware stores.

But a bowstring that is too thin will cut your fingers when firing. These are the contradictions that await you when choosing a material for a bowstring.

At the ends of the block we drill holes along the diameter of the sticks at a distance from the length of the future bowstring. If it is thin, then ten, twenty or thirty turns, depending on the thickness, see for yourself, but the bowstring must be at least two millimeters in diameter.

In order for the arrow to immediately fall on the middle of the bowstring when shooting, we put on thick rubber rings opposite the bow shelf between which the arrow will be inserted. Our almost professional bowstring is all ready.

With the help of a bowstring, the tension of the arms and the acceleration of the arrow take place, so the quality of the bowstring affects many of the characteristics of the crossbow. An important requirement for a bowstring is that it does not stretch during use, and the durability of the bowstring will depend on what material it is made of.

It’s not difficult to make a crossbow bowstring yourself; suitable materials include threads such as lavsan, dacron, kevlar, deinema, SVM, fastflight and others made of synthetic fiber. After the machine is made, you can begin making the bowstring.

How to make a crossbow at home

On the middle part of the bowstring you need to make a transverse winding again, because it is most susceptible to wear and tear.

Another step on the path to making a crossbow has been taken, it’s time to move on to the next one. The design of a crossbow consists of three main parts: the stock, the arc and the trigger. If you want to make a crossbow with your own hands, start from a blank for the arc. The parameters of the remaining parts will depend on its size.

How to quickly make a crossbow with your own hands, video and photo

A crossbow is a small weapon. The principle of shooting is similar to archery. Nowadays, crossbow shooting is a fairly popular sport. But the cost of a crossbow starts from several tens of dollars. Therefore, many adherents of the crossbow try to make it with their own hands, at home.

Let's look at what components a crossbow consists of:

• Bed;
• Trigger;
• Bowstring;
• Arrows or bolts.

What do you need to make a crossbow from wood with your own hands?

Minimum set of tools:

• Very sharp knife;
• Drill;
• A grinder with a wood disc or a regular hacksaw;
• Hammer;
• Plane;
• Chisel.

To make a crossbow you need a piece of wood. It is advisable to take a tree:

• hazel,
• ash,
• poplar.

You can also use birch or oak. The wood of these trees is more resistant to moisture, viscous, does not splinter and is beautiful. The wooden blank should have a length of about 900 mm and a thickness of 30 mm. Coniferous wood cannot be used.

To make a crossbow, the wood must be properly prepared. Only from the “correct” wood will a crossbow shoot for a long time with great power. Having cut a tree trunk or branch to the required length and thickness, the cuts must be painted over. This is done so that moisture leaves the wood gradually, and, therefore, the wood will dry more slowly and evenly. The clogged branches will be placed away from sunlight. They stay like that for about a year. After a year, the bark is removed from the workpieces, and it dries for another week. And only after all these procedures are completed, the branch is sawed lengthwise and the making of the crossbow begins. Of the two parts of the branch, take the northern one, guided by the annual rings. On this side, the fibers fit closer to each other, which means the material will be stronger.

photo: correctly carved wood for a crossbow

On the board, draw the shape of the future base and cut it out using a grinder or a hacksaw. Make a groove on top for the arrow. A groove is cut on one side to secure the arc. If knots or chips appear during the work, they must be processed with a sharp knife and then with sandpaper.

The second step will be making an arc. For it, take a board with a thickness of 20 mm and a length of at least 750 mm. The board must be smooth and free of knots. The board must be thoroughly dried, left for several days, and only then trimmed. The width of the arc is approximately 40 mm in the middle; towards the edges its width decreases to 15 mm.

photo.string of a homemade crossbow

An arc for a powerful crossbow can be made from a spring leaf of a UAZ car. Using a grinder, we cut an arc from the spring. Its dimensions are as follows: length 850 mm, width at the ends 15 mm, and in the middle 30 mm. Next, using a sharpening stone, bring the thickness to 8 mm in the center and 4 mm at the periphery. Drill holes for fastening with a Pobedit drill

Preparing the groove for the arc. We make a hole for fastening from a rope, at a distance of 100 mm from the cut groove for the arc. We insert the arc into the groove and secure it with a rope. Or you can make a metal frame that will cover both the stock and the bow. The next step is to attach the bowstring to the ends of the bow, using the cuts made in advance. Stretch the string as you would when shooting. Thus we will find the most distant point. After this, we determine the optimal size of the crossbow, which is equal in length to your forearm.

We will make the bowstring from lavsan or fastfly. You can use a thin cable. Wrap the threads stretched between two nails, and make loops at the ends for putting on.

We wind the threads to a thickness of 5 mm. Then, without removing the threads from the nails, we wrap the threads once so that they are tight to each other. After this, we collect both halves of the bowstring at the first nail, and wrap it tightly again to the second nail. As a result, we got a bowstring with loops at the ends. The middle part of the bowstring must be wrapped very carefully, since a very large friction force acts on this part. The cut threads must be coated well with glue so that all the threads are monolithic. We tighten the bowstring using a stirrup made of wire. Having secured the bowstring, we adjust the degree of its tension. If the bowstring is too thick, the force of the shot will be reduced, and if it is too thin, it will break. Therefore, you need to make a bowstring of medium thickness. You can make a bowstring in the likeness of sports models.

photo: crossbow trigger

An important step necessary to make a homemade powerful crossbow

And so, we come to the most important part of our design. We will make a crossbow trigger mechanism. This will be a pin type lock. To do this, drill a through hole at the point of maximum tension on the bowstring. Make a transverse recess in the upper part of the bed. The next step is to secure the lever at the bottom of the crossbow. We make the axle out of wood and fasten it with wire.

Another type of trigger is called a nut. It consists of a cylinder that rotates freely around its axis. On one side it has hooks for the bowstring, and on the other side there is an L-shaped trigger stop. If the crossbow's power is up to 30 kg, the cylinder can be made of wood, but with a power over 30 kg it must be made of metal. Make the “nut” that will hold the bowstring from a piece of iron without welding to make it stronger.

We fix the stock and the lever with ropes so that the lever moves with minimal friction.

For the boom, the groove should be located from the top hole of the lock to the leading edge. The depth of the gutter is equal to a quarter of the diameter of the boom.

The wooden crossbow is ready. Now let's start processing the details. First, we process all the parts with sandpaper. After this, they can be coated with protein mixed with water. Then check how the lock works. Make sure the mechanism is as strong as possible.

To make the crossbow more beautiful, cover the wooden parts with stain and varnish, and the metal parts with black paint.

Now let's move on to the arrows. You can also make them yourself. To do this, you can make blanks from an ordinary board. Then these blanks need to be carefully planed. It is recommended to choose light wood. When making the tip, you should not drive nails in, as if it hits the target, the arrow may split.

We looked at how to make a regular “medieval” crossbow.

The crossbow can be block. It can also be made at home. It is made of fiberglass, 10 mm thick.

First, fiberglass shoulders are made. To do this, you need to cut from 30 to 40 strips from fiberglass or Kevlar. Glue them together with epoxy glue and place them under a press until completely dry. After 24 hours or more, these structures need to be leveled and thoroughly cleaned.

photo.mounting a homemade crossbow

The bed, as in the previous case, is made of wood.

The blocks are made of aluminum. It is better if they are on bearings. The middle parts of roller skate wheels are perfect for these purposes. The axles for them need to be taken with a diameter of 5 mm. They can also be taken from skates. Fasteners are made of steel or other durable material. If, when making the shoulders, the ends are made thicker, there is no need to make fastenings. The next step will be to install a trigger mechanism with a trigger and an arrow holder on the crossbow. All this is connected using bolts and washers. In block-type crossbows, the bowstring is slightly longer and is tensioned differently. It seems to cross, and the arrow flies with double energy. A thin cable is used as a bowstring, which can withstand sudden pressure when fired.

Read how:

To conduct targeted shooting from a crossbow made by yourself at home, you need to adjust the stock. It needs to be adjusted taking into account the flight path of the arrow. The bed should be at an angle of 5-6 degrees. It’s even better to decide on the shooting distance and zero the crossbow you’ve made, after each series of shots, changing the angle of the stock.

photo: homemade wooden crossbow

The trigger mechanism can be anything, as long as it does not fire prematurely, under the force of the bowstring. The string should, after the shot, return close to the stock, but without strong friction.

If you don’t want to buy an expensive crossbow (and prices sometimes exceed $1000), you can make a crossbow with your own hands. It's not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The design of the crossbow is quite simple. A crossbow can be made from what is at hand, replacing missing materials with similar ones. A homemade crossbow is quite suitable for target shooting.

General view of a crossbow that you can make with your own hands according to drawings

The design of this crossbow uses the developments of manufacturers in the field of weapons. The drawings show a crossbow of a block design. If you follow the instructions and observe all the dimensions, you can make a high-quality and good crossbow with your own hands, even at home

General diagram of a homemade crossbow assembly:

To begin with, it is advisable to carefully study the drawings of the crossbow and begin assembling it yourself. Making a crossbow with your own hands is not an easy task. But this increases interest in work! After all, a homemade crossbow can bring great joy and respect to the performer.

Crossbow structure: stock, shoulders, butt, trigger mechanism, sighting devices, block system. To make the stock, natural wood, solid or laminated timber, mainly hardwood, is used. The exact dimensions of the crossbow can be seen in the drawings. You choose the shape of the crossbow yourself, guided by the convenience and ergonomics of the stock and the desired image. When choosing, you must also consider whether you can make such a form correctly.

Crossbow shoulders and deck drawing:

The use of a small arms stock can significantly reduce labor costs for the manufacture of a crossbow. The main thing is to choose the right size. The trace of the trunk left in such a stock must be hammered in with wooden blocks, firmly seated with epoxy glue. The butt and under-barrel pad of a crossbow can also be made of wood. The stock will be attached to the guide and serve as the basis for the trigger mechanism.

Butt drawing:

Offered for DIY assembly, the crossbow has a block design. This allows you to compensate for the load when cocking the bowstring and maintain power. Compound crossbows are the most popular among hunters because... You can carry a crossbow in a cocked state for quite a long time. Horton actively uses this design in the production of its crossbows.

Drawing of block assembly parts:

Pay special attention to the processing of the arrow guides and bowstring. The clarity of their finish greatly influences shooting accuracy. The guide lines must be perfectly straight and smooth. The best choice would be grinding on a milling machine and subsequent processing with fine-grain sandpaper. Next comes polishing the guides. You can see the dimensions of the boom guide groove in the drawings. The crosspiece, with the shoulders attached to it, is installed at the end of the stock. It is usually made from an aluminum billet. Wood can also serve as a suitable material.

A crossbow sight must consist of a rear sight and a front sight. You can also install an optical sight on the crossbow, providing a mount for the aiming bar. Vertical adjustments are made entirely, mounted on the cover of the trigger mechanism, and horizontal ones - with a front sight mounted on the bracket of the elastic element.

There can be many design options for sights and sighting devices for a crossbow, depending on the possibility of manufacturing, the availability of ready-made sights from conventional weapons (air rifles), etc.

It should be borne in mind that the flight path of a crossbow arrow (crossbow bolt) is quite high, so the rear sight must be installed significantly higher than the front sight. The angle of elevation of the aiming line depends on the weight of the arrow, the tension of the string, the shooting distance, etc. In our crossbow at a distance of 50 m it is approximately 6°.

Convenient are the designs of the rear sight, which allow it to be removed or folded during transportation. It will also be convenient if the rear sight can be adjusted manually by raising or lowering the bar. Thus, you will be able to target the crossbow under different conditions (distance to target, weight of the arrow).

The crossbow, the manufacture of which is described above, is designed for shooting bolts with a diameter of 8 mm and a length of 450-470 mm. You can easily make them yourself from a duralumin tube with a wall thickness of 0.5 mm. The tip and liner are attached to the bolt in front, and the feathering is attached to the back, just as they do for archery. It should be borne in mind that the shank of a bolt for a crossbow, unlike an arrow for a bow, should not have a cutout for the bowstring; it should be flat. It can be carved from wood in the form of a cork and inserted into the end of the tube, having previously been lubricated with glue.

Would be a great gift for a child. With it you can organize a small shooting range. The power of the crossbow is not great, since it uses an elastic band as a bowstring. Such a crossbow shoots almost anything; the author, as an option, uses small arrows made from the shaft of a ballpoint pen and a tip in the form of a syringe needle. The crossbow is assembled quickly and easily; it requires a minimum of materials.

Materials and tools for homemade work:
- steel strip;
- wooden plank;
- an ordinary wooden clothespin;
- handle from a ski pole;
- a thin spring or elastic band;
- a piece of steel wire;
- trigger from a children's toy gun;
- sheet iron or elements from a mechanical designer.

Tools you will need: drill, hacksaw, pliers, fastening tool and file.

How to assemble a mini crossbow:

Step one. Crossbow shoulders and stock
How the shoulders and stock of the crossbow are made and attached can be seen in the photo. The stock is very easy to assemble; you will need three boards. They are connected to each other with ordinary nails.

As for the shoulder mechanism of the crossbow, it is made from a piece of steel strip. The shoulders should not bend, since an elastic band or spring is used as a bowstring. Screws are used to attach the arms to the stock.

Step two. Device trigger
The trigger mechanism for a crossbow is also very simple to make. For these purposes you will need a regular wooden clothespin. You need to cut off one gripping part from it. You can see exactly how in the photo.

Step three. Crossbow handle
To make the handle for the homemade product, the author used a handle from a ski pole. It can be attached to the stock using glue.

Step four. Additional crossbow arms
To make the crossbow a little more powerful, a second mount for elastic bands was made, that is, a second pair of shoulders. Such parts were found in old parts. How to attach them to the stock can be seen in the photo.

Step five. How to make a pusher
To make a pusher you will need a piece of wood. It must be carefully adjusted to the clothespin. To secure the bowstring, a groove is made in the pusher. As a result, paired with a clothespin, the pusher works as a very simple and practical trigger.

Step six. Bowstring
The author used an elastic band as a bowstring. This can be found in a fishing store. In the middle of the elastic band, which will go into the pusher, you need to put a tube (cambric). This is necessary so that the rubber does not wear out due to friction against the wood.

Step seven. Making the trigger
The trigger from a children's pistol is perfect as a trigger for a crossbow. You need to attach a thin metal mount to it. An element from the designer is well suited for these purposes.

Step eight. We begin to assemble the structure
In the photo you can see what the structure will look like after installing additional shoulders. A top view and a bottom view are presented.

At this stage, you can already install the trigger mechanism. It is attached with a screw.

That's all, now the crossbow is almost ready, you need to connect the elastic band. The elastic bands are attached to the shoulders, as well as to the pusher, which moves freely in the groove of the crossbow stock. This design allows you to shoot almost anything from a crossbow, you can even shoot balls. A clothespin is used to secure the pusher. To shoot, you need to press the clothespin.

Step nine. Final stages of assembly
As you can see in the photo below, the author decided to equip the crossbow with a sight. It was decided to abandon the elastic band; it was replaced by a thin spring.

Once the trigger is attached, it needs to be connected to the clothespin. To do this, you need to make a rod from steel wire. As a result, when you press the trigger, the clothespin releases the pusher and a shot occurs.

For a crossbow, you can make small arrows (bolts), for this you will need ampoules from ballpoint pens or other suitable tubes. They need to be weighted at the ends by placing a piece of steel wire or another weight inside. As a tip, syringe needles are put on the tubes and placed on the glue.

That's it, the crossbow is ready, it is safe enough as it has little power to cause serious injuries. For greater safety, you do not need to use arrows with a sharp tip. Another advantage is that the crossbow is easy to load, meaning that pulling the string and shooting will not be difficult for a child.

Below in the video you can see how the most powerful crossbow in the world works. An experiment was conducted to see if a crossbow could penetrate armor...

Initially, a self-made crossbow weapon was called a crossbow. Another meaning of this word is in the name of a homemade weapon that operates without human intervention. This is a hunting item designed to be installed on deserted trails in deep forests. But it is not advisable to use this crossbow, since there is a high risk of injuring another person. Any crossbow, like any weapon, can cause significant harm to health if it is used incorrectly or left to children unattended. To know how to make a crossbow at home, you should listen to some of the recommendations listed below.

Do-it-yourself homemade crossbow

A crossbow-type self-propelled weapon for hunting is a kind of special type of trap with a guard. This weapon has been used for a long time in Rus', installed near animal trails. An animal passing by could touch the guard or grab the bait, which would trigger a simple weapon that would hit the target. Such a crossbow was installed at a distance from several tens of centimeters to several meters.

The simplest hunting crossbow consists of the following parts:

• The basis
• bow string
• Cord or rope for attaching the gatehouse to the base
• Gatehouse
• Alert thread
• Arrow

A loop of guard thread is installed on the long end of the guard. When she pulls it off, the guard turns under the action of the bowstring, it is released, and a shot is fired. The longer the guard, the easier it is to shoot from a guarded wooden crossbow.

A homemade hunting crossbow can be installed not only on the trail, when you can catch prey in front, behind or from the side, but also on tree branches. An animal that has climbed a tree must touch the warning thread of the crossbow. Self-propelled weapons are mounted on branches for hunting small animals. It is also mounted suspended on trees for hunting wolverines, wolves or wild dogs. Stones, shortened arrows (so-called bolts), peg arrows, etc. are used as a throwing projectile.

Homemade crossbow

Firearms are rarely made for hunting because, like any weapon loaded with bullets, they are very dangerous. As a rule, such traps are installed near an animal trail, near which signal signs are placed warning a person about the presence of a crossbow nearby. The simplest option for making a self-propelled weapon is to use a ten-gauge metal tube 20-25 cm long, with one end welded and the other ending with a brace. The starting device is equipped with a capsule. The made crossbow is loaded with two bullets, a suitable tree is found near the animal trail, screwed into the trunk, and a tripwire is made onto the trail. The weapon is aimed at the trail, the hunter is located near the hunting site. You can use this method of hunting, but crossbows are a much safer type of self-propelled weapon.

How to make a crossbow at home

Making a crossbow at home

Making a crossbow with your own hands is quite simple. To do this, you first need to leave a drawing of each part. The weapon consists of a bowstring with shoulders, a stock and a trigger mechanism. Steps on how to make a crossbow with your own hands at home:

1. The stock is made of wood: for this you need to find a suitable board, draw a sketch of the stock, then cut it out with a jigsaw and a hacksaw.
2. A homemade crossbow must have a hole for a finger - it is made using a suitable drill.
3. A needle file is used to make a groove for the arrow, the location of which is previously marked with a marker or pencil.

You can use ordinary wooden clothespins to secure the arrow. To do this, a hole with a diameter equal to the thickness of the arrow is drilled in one of them, after which two clothespins are glued to the top and bottom of the crossbow stock, and the one in which the hole is made is placed on top of the back part. It is this that will hold the arrow and be attached to the top ones.

Homemade crossbow

Crossbow arms can be made from car springs or elastic plastic. They are secured with a block or welded metal fastener. To tension the bowstring, block elements are used for fastening at the ends of the crossbow arcs. The bowstring is made of steel cable or nylon thread, for example, lavsan.

When making a crossbow, an important part is the trigger mechanism. For this you will need:

• Stainless steel sheet 2-3 mm thick, size 10x15 cm.
• Two small springs
• Three 10mm bolts with six nuts and two 8mm bolts with two nuts.

On paper you need to draw a diagram of the trigger mechanism, or more precisely, the trigger and hook for the bowstring. The drawing is transferred from paper to a sheet of metal, cut out with a hacksaw, and processed with a file. After this, a drawing of the parts of the crossbow trigger housing is made from wood, transferred to a metal plate, and cut out with a hacksaw. The holes for the trigger mechanism must first be made on a piece of plywood; if it works properly, then transfer the holes to a metal plate. Bolts with a diameter of 08 mm secure the trigger and hook for the bowstring, and the springs are also attached. The side parts of the plates are fastened with bolts with a diameter of 10 mm, and after that the homemade trigger mechanism for the crossbow is ready.

A crossbow is a throwing weapon that is an improved design of a bow. Its advantage is the ability to aim without unnecessary effort. The technical characteristics of the gun increase the destructive power and shooting accuracy. In our country, the use of this type of throwing weapon is unpopular, since it is difficult to find the necessary design. There is very little inventory, but user interest is quite high. Crossbows are quite expensive. However, the design of the weapon is quite simple, so you can easily make it yourself.

What is a crossbow used for?

First of all, it is worth noting that the use of throwing weapons with a tension force of more than 43 kgf is illegal, whether it is homemade or purchased from official manufacturers. Today, the main uses of the crossbow are sports competitions and outdoor activities.

The device itself was first created two and a half thousand years ago in China. In Europe, the weapon gained popularity only at the beginning of the twelfth century and was used exclusively for military purposes. Later, homemade crossbows were used for hunting. However, only rich people could afford expensive mechanisms and special arrows.

Arrows for this type of weapon are much heavier and are more often called bolts. Their use is necessary since the tension force of the bowstring is much higher and requires the use of heavy projectiles. They, in turn, provide increased power upon impact. Now, the ban on hunting with throwing weapons in Russia and the CIS countries does not allow the use of a crossbow to catch game. Throwing weapons are used exclusively for sporting purposes.

Differences and adaptations

A bow and a crossbow have several obvious differences that must be taken into account when creating a weapon with your own hands. The main differences are:

Tension force. Since the design of the crossbow allows the bowstring to be pulled with greater force, a reliable mechanism is required that does not fail. When purchasing it, you should not skimp, because it guarantees not only safety, but also durability. It is also convenient to use a device for tensioning the bowstring.

Use of bolts. By adding a spring to hold the projectile, the gun can be used at any desired angle. Aim. Installing additional equipment will ensure accuracy and make it easier to shoot from the shoulder, similar to a firearm.

In addition, when creating a throwing weapon with your own hands, you should pay special attention to the method of tensioning the bowstring. There are several of them. The most reliable and popular are:

Leg or hand braces. A very popular type of tension. However, its use is only available for crossbows with low power. Strap and hook. This method allows you to fix the machine tool with your feet, similar to the first example. When bent, the hook clings to the bowstring, and restoring the position is done by tightening and fixing it. An improved type of the second method is a rope using rollers. The mount is also installed on the belt. The use of two curved arms placed on pins is called a goat leg. The pins protrude on both sides of the stock. The owner pulls the opposite side towards himself, thereby exerting tension. Release lever. The essence of the method is to connect the hook and bracket to the front of the stock. Thus, the bowstring is pressed back. Using rack and pinion gates. A very ancient technology that appeared in the fifteenth century in Germany. The tension is carried out by a collar, which allows the method to be used for very powerful crossbows. Very suitable for hunting because it has killing power.

There are also many other ways to tension the bowstring for certain types of weapons. However, they are used much less frequently and have been used in ancient times. Their safety is significantly lower, which does not guarantee the correct use of weapons. To create a crossbow with your own hands, it is recommended to use one of the above methods.

How to create a throwing weapon

When creating a crossbow with your own hands, it is important to understand that the design must be strong and reliable. Making homemade throwing weapons is not difficult, but it requires a very responsible approach to the work.

First you need to decide on the purpose of using the tool. If it is used for hunting, then special emphasis should be placed on the tension mechanism and stock. If you make the design correctly, then the shooting technique will be much easier to cope with.

After determining the required characteristics, you need to make drawings of the future weapon or find ready-made ones on the Internet. They will not only facilitate the creation process, but also organize the workflow. It is best to use carefully designed drawings with dimensions..

Devices and materials

Before making a throwing weapon for hunting with a small pulling force, you need to organize your workplace and prepare the necessary materials. Here are the main items you will need:

two meter-long blocks of coniferous wood; a thin strip 6x1 cm; a polyurethane tube with a diameter of 3 cm; nylon fishing line; wheels with a groove in the middle of the edge; screws and nails 5 centimeters long; glue; wooden dowels (6 pieces); tape and foam; vice and rasp; hammer, chisel, saw and drill; pen or pencil.

Also, during the work process, additional materials may be needed to give the tool an aesthetic appearance. However, you can do this at your own discretion. When using a crossbow for hunting, appearance is not so important. However, it can be polished and decorated as desired.

The working process

First of all, you need to make a gun bed. This is the main part to which the rest of the structure is attached. Take one of the prepared bars and apply it to your shoulder to determine a comfortable length. Make a mark with a pencil and saw off the unnecessary part. With your other hand, mark a comfortable position for the trigger. When creating a weapon with your own hands, it is worth considering that the power depends on the length of the stock. The longer the length, the stronger the tension force. For hunting, it is better to use a longer bar. At the location of the trigger, use a chisel and rasp to cut out a rectangle measuring 10x2.5 cm. Across the resulting hole, cut a strip in which the bowstring will be located.

Now you need to cut a groove for the arrow along the beam. Since the work is done with your own hands, it is extremely important to approach this stage responsibly. The accuracy of shooting depends on the correct position. Using a drill and hammer, knock out a 5mm deep groove exactly in the center and sand it.

Cut another block to a length of 60 cm and glue it to the main part of the crossbow. Let the glue dry. After complete fixation, if desired, you can polish the parts. You can do it with your own hands or with special polishing devices.

Now that the main part of the structure is ready, we need to make the shoulders. To do this, use two polymer pipes, each 90 cm long. Make cuts at the ends of one side into which the bowstring will be placed. Their width should correspond to the prepared screws. Insert them into the cuts you made and attach the wheels with the groove.

Take a nylon fishing line. Secure it to one of the screws, then wrap it around each wheel, going from one side to the other. After wrapping it around the wheels, secure the line to another screw with tension. The result should be a curved structure with three rows of strings. When tensioned, the pipes should bend; if this does not happen, repeat the procedure again.

After completing the stage, it is necessary to secure the resulting structure to the main part of the crossbow. To do this, cut a hole at the end of the beam into which the arc will be attached. Insert the pipe into the hollow and wrap it securely with tape. Keep in mind that one string (more taut) should be on top, and the other two on the bottom.

Now you can move on to the trigger mechanism. Take the prepared strip and cut out the letter “L” from it. At the base of the bend, cut a groove so that it is centered and has a width equal to one-third of the full base. Now you need to cut out the part so that it coincides with the hole in the stock. On the side of the bend, drill a hole the thickness of the nail. Place the piece in the hole of the stock and drive a nail into it so that it goes through the drilled hole in the piece.

All that remains is to focus. It will be a sawn-off 20-centimeter block, which must be sanded for convenience. It can be attached to the main part using nails or glue. Wrap the stop with foam and secure with tape.

This completes the creation of a crossbow for hunting. All that remains is to make the arrows. They can be easily made from wooden dowels and trims to the required length. On one side a cut is made for the bowstring, on the other the end is sharpened.

The main thing is not to use the weapon in public places and near places of residence and objects where people may be found. By following safety rules, you can have a great time not only hunting, but also engaging in active recreation.

The crossbow was invented by the Romans many centuries ago. Later they stopped using it in battles, but seven hundred years later the Europeans brought the weapon back into use, having modernized it well. You can try yourself in the role of a warrior now. If you can’t buy an expensive weapon, then we will make you happy. You can make a simple crossbow with your own hands at home.

A handmade homemade crossbow is made of wood, paper or metal. It all depends on what you have on hand at home and what you will use it for.

There are recommendations on how to easily assemble a block, spring, toy and repeating crossbow yourself, using step-by-step instructions and simple diagrams. Therefore, everyone has the opportunity to use the hidden weapon of an assassin or arrange a battle with colleagues using a small wrist office crossbow made of cardboard.

The history of the crossbow

The main advantage of a block or simple crossbow compared to a bow is that there is no need for training or special skills. There is no need to use force to aim here. Due to the levers, the device helps to cope with the bowstring.

In past centuries, many officials and rulers considered the possession of these weapons a dangerous undertaking, as they were afraid of a riot. Therefore, the Weapons Control Order was soon issued, when crossbows were banned throughout Europe. But after the outbreak of hostilities with the Turks, the decision was canceled. Richard the Lionheart made it the main element in the equipment of his warriors.

Making a crossbow yourself is not so easy, but it is possible if you have basic design skills, drawings and a few power tools. You are required to comply with safety precautions, since you are, after all, creating a weapon. Therefore, it should not be directed at people, nor should it be given to small children.

Nowadays you will no longer need medieval spare parts in the form of animal bundles or special fibers; improvised materials will do. But this is enough to shoot at cans or bottles.

How to make a crossbow from wood

A wooden shooting crossbow made of PVC or plywood block type is the most famous option.

Manufacturing instructions:

• take a piece of wood that will be the base, attach a metal plate or corners to the end;
• take another block, smaller in size (about 5 cm wide, 2 cm thick), make holes on the sides, place it at the base, 10 cm from the edge;
• in two 15 cm plates in the middle, make fastenings for springs, make a hole at the edge for installing the shoulders to the base;
• on the other side of the plate, make holes for a roller, which is sold in any market. Repeat these steps with the other plank;
• attach the shoulders to the base;
• use small spring springs (they act as a return mechanism), attaching one end to the shoulders and the other to a steel plate;
• Install rollers on the edges of the smaller beam, secure the part at the base;
• create two guides from organic glass;
• build a trigger mechanism from clothespins, rubber bands or something more powerful;
• paint the device and place the butt in a place suitable for your hand.

How to make a crossbow out of paper? Even easier!

Making a paper crossbow from cardboard that also shoots is as easy as shelling pears. Paper weapons shoot arrows from pencils, pens, matches, Lego skewers or rulers. In general, anything that is light in weight and looks similar to real arrows. For production you will need:

• 12-18 sheets of paper;
• three spatulas or ice cream sticks;
• threads;
• scissors;
• pencil;
• paper knife;
• scotch.

Step-by-step instruction:

• fold five sheets in half;
• straighten and cut at the bend;
• screw the halves onto a pencil and secure with tape;
• put a 4 cm mark on the stick (spatula) and on the tube;
• insert the spatula to the mark, then break off;
• wrap the tube with tape for strength;
• bend the sides of the crossbow;
• take five sheets of paper and wrap them around a pencil;
• attach the sides to the tube;
• fasten the bowstring, tighten it and make a mark at the limiting point;
• make a hole for the hook;
• make a hook from a piece of stick and secure it in the hole;
• cut one sheet in half, twist the tubes and secure in the descent area;
• make another tube measuring 5 cm, insert it into the front part (it will be a guide).

How to make a mini crossbow for a child

A small children's crossbow will be an unusual gift for a child. The power is small, since the bowstring will be a simple elastic band. This will require a minimum of materials. It is done like this:

• you need to connect three small boards together;
• make the shoulders from metal and secure with screws;
• cut off the gripping part from the clothespin;
• the handle can be taken from a ski pole and installed using glue;
• you can make a couple more shoulders for the elastic bands; bearings that are attached to a common plate are suitable for this;
• for the pusher, take a small piece of wood, which is driven under the clothespin;
• a groove is made for attaching the bowstring;
• a bowstring is created from a strong elastic band;
• for the trigger, just take a spare part from a children's pistol and attach a metal part to it;
• connect the shoulders and the base;
• attach the trigger mechanism with a screw;
• fasten the elastic band;
• secure the sight, if desired.

How to make a powerful crossbow for hunting or fishing

To create a real military weapon for hunting or fishing, more serious parts and diagrams will be required. What are the shoulders made of? Take a metal bow, make the stock out of wood, and make the bowstring out of elastic synthetic fibers.

The mechanism and fastenings made of bolts are the most difficult thing; only those who know how to work with metal can do it. But you can order the necessary spare parts in the workshop according to the drawings, and then assemble everything at home. But bolts and nods are easily made from wood or plastic, arrows with tips are made from wood or iron rods.

Not everyone can assemble a hunting or underwater crossbow. Therefore, it is better to entrust the work to a master to be sure of the result.